A lawsuit from 30 U.S. states accuses Meta of exploiting children through addictive platform features, seeking significant financial damages and operational changes.
Key facts
- •The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by a coalition of 30 U.S. states.
- •Plaintiffs are seeking upwards of $1 trillion in damages from Meta.
- •The states are requesting the removal of "like" counts and infinite scroll features.
- •Meta’s internal research reportedly linked Instagram usage to negative body image and loneliness.
- •The company has provided over 2 million documents to the court during the legal proceedings.
- •Meta currently holds a stock market valuation of approximately $1.5 trillion.
A jury trial beginning Tuesday marks a significant legal challenge for Meta regarding its impact on young users. Filed in 2023 by 30 U.S. states, including California and New York, the lawsuit alleges that Meta violated federal and state privacy laws by designing features to keep children and teenagers on its platforms for extended periods.
By the numbers
Demands for Operational Changes
The states are seeking damages upwards of $1 trillion and are demanding that Meta implement fundamental changes to Instagram and Facebook. Specifically, the lawsuit calls for the removal of features such as "like" counts and infinite scrolling, which the states argue are designed to maximize user engagement and make it difficult for young people to reduce their time on the apps. Frequent notifications are also cited as a tactic to draw users back to the platforms.
Allegations of Exploitation and Mental Health Impact
The lawsuit contends that Meta intentionally targeted young users to expand its business and user base. Lawyers for the states pointed to Meta’s own internal research, which allegedly showed that engagement metrics like "like" counts foster "social comparison," leading to increased loneliness, negative body image, and depression. The states argue these design choices have contributed to a broader youth mental health crisis.
Legal Proceedings and Company Response
The case is being heard by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California. In response to the allegations, a Meta spokeswoman stated that the company strongly disagrees with the claims and maintains a commitment to supporting young people. Meta has reportedly handed over more than 2 million documents as part of the legal process.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Technology.
